Handmade and Heartfelt: Etsy for Animals

By Jessica Bush

With the help of a few hundred dedicated Etsy.com crafters, it seems that a stitch in time saves more than nine. That’s because members of Etsy for Animals (EFA) Artists Helping Animals donate a portion of their sales to animal charities.

Michele Erez, a vegan artist and teacher from California, founded the program in 2007. The now international EFA uses its handmade and heartfelt treasures to support animal nonprofits “that exist for the benefit of helping animals, and that do not support hunting or animal testing.”

Whether you’re looking for geekery or clothing (or both), chances are you can outfit your kitty cat with something unique made by these crafters and give back to pets in need.

Each month, one member of the EFA selects a charity that will be the focus for that period. Recently, donations were contributed to Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK), a nonprofit dedicated to the care of the animals that were made homeless by the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.

Jessica Bushis a pet blogger and pet enthusiast located in Birmingham, Ala.